Edgewater To Consider Baugh Petition

April 17, 1985

EDGEWATER — A petition signed by 1,038 people asking that Mayor Earl Baugh be reinstated as police chief will be the subject of a special city council meeting next week.

City officials said about 37 signatures on the petition given to the city Monday were those of Oak Hill and New Smyrna Beach residents. The others appeared to be from city residents, they said. Councilmen voted 4 to 1 to accept the petition with Russell Prater in opposition.

The meeting will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Riverside Drive Community Center.

If Baugh were to resign to accept the job, Neil Asting would become mayor and an election would be called to fill his council seat.

Baugh, who was elected mayor last November, says he is torn between his commitment to the people who voted for him and an obligation to those who are petitioning for his reinstatement as police chief.

The top spot in the police department has been vacant since Jan. 15 when Doug Betts was fired by a unanimous vote of the council.